This section contains information about a selection of ABS statistical products released since the last newsletter, in particular those containing data about older Australians. For a full listing of recently released ABS products, please check the ABS website for Statistics by Release Date.

JUNE 2009

Australian Social Trends, June 2009 (cat. no. 4102.0) presents statistical analysis and commentary on a wide range of current social issues. New articles are released quarterly and are organised into eight chapters, representing the following broad areas of interest: population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; and housing, as well as a chapter of articles covering other areas of social concern. Each chapter is supported by a set of summary tables including key social indicators which provide an overview of social change over the past decade, as well as how social conditions differ across Australian states and territories. A set of international tables compares Australia with 17 other nations. Data available varies with each issue.

Employment Arrangements, Retirement and Superannuation, Australia, April to July 2007 (Re-issue) (cat. no. 6361.0). This publication (first published on 7 November 2008) was reissued to correct two tables, Table 12: 'Families with children aged under 15 years, employment status of parent by type of child care'; and Table 30: 'Retired Persons, Lump sum payments and superannuation income - by selected characteristics'. The tabulation errors do not affect other products such as the CURF or state and territory tables.

Australian Demographic Statistics, December 2008 (cat. no. 3101.0) provides quarterly estimates of the total population for states, territories and Australia. It includes the most recent estimates of the population; numbers (and some rates) of births, deaths, infant deaths, interstate and overseas movements. Quarterly and/or annual time series tables are provided throughout. It also includes projected resident populations, projected population in households, projected number of households and projected average household size for states, territories and Australia. Some data are available for older persons.

Australian Labour Market Statistics, July 2009 (cat. no. 6105.0) draws together labour statistics from a range of ABS household and business surveys, to provide an overall picture of the labour market. The key purpose of this publication is to raise awareness of the data available, so that users will be able to use it more effectively. Some data are available for older persons.

AUGUST 2009Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2008 (cat. no. 3235.0) contains final estimates of the resident populations of areas of Australia as at 30 June 2003 and preliminary estimates as at 30 June 2008, based on Statistical Local Areas (SLAs), Local Government Areas (LGAs), Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs), Statistical Divisions (SDs), and states and territories, according to the 2008 edition of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC).

Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 6523.0) provides estimates of income received by households, classified by various characteristics of the households and their residents, e.g. income quintile, principal source of household income, family composition, tenure type, age, employment status. Improvements have been made to the measurements of income presented in the publication, in line with international standards, to incorporate: non-cash benefits provided to employees, termination payments and lump sum workers compensation payments; and to improve the coverage of bonuses and irregular overtime payments and inter-household transfers. This publication also includes, for the first time, summary child care usage and cost information. Some data are available for older persons.

Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, June 2009 (cat. no. 6467.0) (First issue). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is designed to measure price inflation for the household sector as a whole. The Government requested the ABS produce a new index - the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI). The Government will use the PBLCI to index base pension rates where it increases at a higher rate than the CPI.

National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2007-2008 (Re-issue) (cat. no. 4364.0)
This publication (first published on 11 May 2009) has been reissued to correct data in some tables and also replaces any estimates from those tables which are presented in the Summary of Findings. While some data were not in error, a number of changes have been made to improve the usefulness of the data. It contains a cross-section of survey results, including selected national statistics about long-term illnesses experienced; mental wellbeing; consultations with doctors and other health professionals; and health risk factors including alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, body mass and dietary practices.

Labour Force Experience, Australia, February 2009 (cat. no. 6206.0) provides information on the labour force experience of persons aged 15 years and over during the year prior to the survey. Labour force experience can be described in terms of labour force activities undertaken by persons in a 12-month period, namely working and looking for work. Details include the number of weeks spent working, looking for work, or out of the labour force during the year. Estimates can be cross-classified by labour force demographics such as state, sex, age and marital status and birthplace.

Australian Demographic Statistics, March 2009 (cat. no. 3101.0) provides quarterly estimates of the total population for states, territories and Australia. It includes the most recent estimates of the population in five-year age groups (up to 100 years and over); numbers (and some rates) of births, deaths, infant deaths, interstate and overseas movements. Quarterly and/or annual time series tables are provided throughout. It also includes projected resident populations, projected population in households, projected number of households and projected average household size for states, territories and Australia. Some data are available in five-year age groups for persons aged 65 years and over.

Australian Social Trends, September 2009 (cat. no. 4102.0) presents statistical analysis and commentary on a wide range of current social issues. New articles are released quarterly and are organised into eight chapters, representing the following broad areas of interest: population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; and housing, as well as a chapter of articles covering other areas of social concern. Each chapter is supported by a set of summary tables including key social indicators which provide an overview of social change over the past decade, as well as how social conditions differ across Australian states and territories. A set of international tables also compares Australia with 17 other nations. Data available varies with each new issue.

Australian Labour Market Statistics, October 2009 (cat. no. 6105.0) draws together labour statistics from a range of ABS household and business surveys, to provide an overall picture of the labour market. The key purpose of this publication is to raise awareness of the data available, so that users will be able to use it more effectively. Some data are available for older persons.

Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 4156.0)provides a statistical of overview of sports and physical recreation in Australia. Topics covered include output of the sports and physical recreation sector, employment in sports and physical recreation, government outlays on recreation, international trade in sports and physical recreation goods, attendances at sporting events, and participation in sports and physical recreation activities. Some data are available for older persons.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2008 (cat. no. 4714.0). This first release presents summary results from the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey at the national level, by state/territory and remoteness area for Indigenous adults and children. Some time series data are also presented. Some data are available for older persons. Topics covered in this release include language and culture, social networks and support, health, education, work, housing and financial stress. More detailed results for these and other topics from the survey, including income, transport, law and justice, will be released in the future.

Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2007-08 (cat. no. 4130.0) presents data from the Survey of Income and Housing on Australian housing occupancy and costs, and relates these to characteristics of occupants and dwellings such as tenure, family composition of household, dwelling structure, age, income and principal source of income. It also includes value of dwelling estimates and information on recent home buyers. Some data are available for older persons.

Housing Mobility and Conditions, 2007-08 (cat. no.4130.0.55.002) presents data from the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) on Australian housing mobility and dwelling conditions. The selected housing topics include length of time in dwelling, number of times moved in last five years, reasons for moving, and characteristics of the previous dwelling occupied, as well as aspects of the dwelling occupied, such as any major structural problems, repairs and maintenance carried out in the past 12 months, and sources of energy and water. For first home buyers, data on home deposits paid and any monetary assistance received for the purchase are provided. Some data are available for older persons.

Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, September 2009 (cat. no. 6467.0). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is designed to measure price inflation for the household sector as a whole. The Government requested the ABS produce a new index - the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI). The Government will use the PBLCI to index base pension rates where it increases at a higher rate than the CPI.

Life Tables, Australia, 2006-2008 (cat. no.3302.0.55.001) contains Australian life tables for males and females for the reference period. A life table is a statistical model used to represent mortality of a population. In its simplest form, a life table is generated from age-specific death rates and the resulting values are used to measure mortality, survivorship and life expectancy. Life Tables will also be available for all states and territories on 11 December 2009 (cat. no. 3302.1.55.001 to cat. no. 3302.8.55.001).